Matchbook Containers

Matchbook Containers

These delightful little volumes (inspired by Heather Mann of dollarstorecrafts.com) throw the book at desktop clutter. To transform ordinary matchboxes into match-"book" containers, print all five dust-jacket images, sized to fit basic 300-count matchboxes, from countryliving.com/matchboxcovers. Cut out and adhere the covers and pages to your matchboxes using spray mount. Then fill 'em up with the items referenced on the spines, and shelve.

Miki Duisterhof

01Of18

Custom Puzzle

Custom Puzzle

Talk about a perfect fit: The eight chipboard pieces that form the base of this heart-shaped puzzle cost just $1.20 (5"W × 4⅜"H; studiocee.etsy.com).

Step 2: Snap the jigsaw pieces together and lay them on top of your photo, then trace around the puzzle's perimeter with a pencil. Cut out the resulting heart shape.

Step 3: Turn the photo and all the puzzle pieces facedown. Position the bottommost puzzle piece along the corresponding part of the back of the photo. Trace closely around the puzzle piece with a pencil, then remove. Repeat with the remaining puzzle pieces.

Step 4: Carefully cut out each jigsaw shape from your photo with scissors (the smaller, the better). Use an acid-free glue stick to mount each cutout, faceup, to its matching puzzle piece, also faceup. Slip the pieces in an envelope, and seal—if you like—with a kiss.

Matchbook Containers

These delightful little volumes (inspired by Heather Mann of dollarstorecrafts.com) throw the book at desktop clutter. To transform ordinary matchboxes into match-"book" containers, print all five dust-jacket images, sized to fit basic 300-count matchboxes, from countryliving.com/matchboxcovers. Cut out and adhere the covers and pages to your matchboxes using spray mount. Then fill 'em up with the items referenced on the spines, and shelve.

Miki Duisterhof

2Of18

Custom Puzzle

Talk about a perfect fit: The eight chipboard pieces that form the base of this heart-shaped puzzle cost just $1.20 (5"W × 4⅜"H; studiocee.etsy.com).

Step 2: Snap the jigsaw pieces together and lay them on top of your photo, then trace around the puzzle's perimeter with a pencil. Cut out the resulting heart shape.

Step 3: Turn the photo and all the puzzle pieces facedown. Position the bottommost puzzle piece along the corresponding part of the back of the photo. Trace closely around the puzzle piece with a pencil, then remove. Repeat with the remaining puzzle pieces.

Step 4: Carefully cut out each jigsaw shape from your photo with scissors (the smaller, the better). Use an acid-free glue stick to mount each cutout, faceup, to its matching puzzle piece, also faceup. Slip the pieces in an envelope, and seal—if you like—with a kiss.

Alison Gootee/Studio D

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

3Of18

Illustrated-Birds Mouse Pad

Build a better mouse pad: Put a bird—or seven—on it! Download the free illustration above. Resize the image to 10"W x 7 1/4"H and print onto fabric-transfer paper (dark T-shirt transfer sheets, $7.99 for three; junetailor.com). Cut out the image from the transfer paper, remove the backing, and place, right side facing up, on the smooth side of a piece of top-grain leather ($7.99; 8 1/2"W x 11"L; michaels.com for stores). Iron the image onto the leather, following the transfer-paper package instructions, and trim away the excess leather bordering the flock.

Miki Duisterhof

4Of18

Hatch a Prettier Seating Plan

A carrier pigeon, clad in a vintage-postcard print—could there be a wittier way to convey your wedding's pecking order? We fell for the concept upon spying it in Clare Youngs's Book Art (Cico, $21.95). Then we simplified the process for you: Just print our placecard art onto 8½"W x 11"L card stock, cut out, and fold in half as directed. To equip each pigeon with a message, write a guest's name on a 5/16"W x 6"L strip of paper and curl the ends by wrapping them around a pencil. Then loop the strip around the bird's front leg before perching him atop a plate.

Sow a New Tradition

Sharing your garden bounty can mean more than handing out juicy tomatoes. Why not also pass along homegrown vegetable seeds? Learn how to harvest them at seedsave.org—then package those future plans in our sweet little DIY envelopes. Simply download the free PDF (plus instructions), then print on earthy paper, fold, and give the gift of gardening for mere pennies. (Recycled paper, $10 for 100 sheets; jampaper.com)

Burcu Avsar

6Of18

Paper Quilt

"Stitch" up a colorful paper quilt—no sewing necessary! Inspired by a post on lindaandharriett.blogspot.com, this playful take on a folk-art staple offers a smart way to repurpose scraps of paper. (We used open stock: from 99 cents per 12-inch-square sheet; michaels.com for stores.) Select four different patterned papers; cut 20 two-inch squares from three of them and 21 two-inch squares from the fourth (the extra square will serve as the center of your quilt). Following our pattern template, adhere the squares to an 18-inch-square illustration board using a glue stick. Then, pop the quilt in a frame to show off your handiwork (similar 20-inch-square frame, $47.82; salinepictureframe.com).

Burcu Avsar

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

7Of18

Decorative Tape

Dart Fridge Magnets

Get right to the point with photorealistic magnets. The key to crafting these sharp fridge accessories? Adhesive magnet paper ($7.29 for 12"W x 24"L sheet; promagproducts.com). Simply download our PDF (containing these dart and pushpin photos), and print it out on computer paper. Next, pull the magnet sheet's paper layer away to reveal the magnet's adhesive side, and place your printed images atop the adhesive. Smooth out any bubbles before cutting out each image with sharp scissors, working close to the images. Then, take aim at the fridge to see your handiwork hold tight.

Amber C. McPhail

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

9Of18

Paper Envelope

Paper Vases

Near a favorite reading chair, present a page-turning vignette. Paint a silhouette on a backdrop of book pages. Then cut vase shapes to give text three dimensions. Get the drections to make paper vases »